Wednesday, 6 June 2012

Tapping into illustration

Jonathan has just completed a commission from designer Gill Davies for the identity of lady plumbers, Stirrup & Green. Jonathan's wood engraving captures the spirit of the can-do plumbing outfit serving communities in Wiltshire and Berkshire.

The device was designed to be a single image for the firm's mark as well as work as a unit for a repeat pattern. As patternsmiths it is an absolute joy when one of our clients asks us to create a new and witty repeat.

Gill has used the pattern paper on the Stirrup & Green postcard reversed out of green on the front, green on cream on the back, demonstrating the beauty and versatility of single colour printing. The designers have used a second colour, a deep crimson, to make the company name zing out and creating a great mid-century feel to the palette.

Jonathan has created many repeat patterns over the years including Comet, widely used on our Starch Green products, Goldfish and Three. We are always very pleased to take commissions for patterns, illustrations and design work.

STARCH GREEN is a small studio in West London, set up by artist-designers Jonathan Mercer and Kate Fishenden.

Our focus is on hand-made design, using craft skills to create artwork and objects that add positively to the pattern of life, balancing home and work and creating a feeling of well-being. Our strong commitment to family, work-life balance and applied art combines to deliver a range of distinctive pattern papers, illustrations, prints and products, and a human approach to design.

Our talents dovetail, both having skills in illustration, design and typography. Whilst Jonathan’s wood engravings are the source and inspiration for repeat patterns, prints and stationery, Kate brings in the art of silkscreen printing to create fine art prints and extend the work on to textiles. We collaborate on the design of products developed to enhance the pattern of life. Production centres around the Albion press in the shed, the kitchen table and the studio.

We also take commissions for repeat patterns, label design, illustration, bespoke social stationery and small print runs.

For more information or to arrange a viewing of the portfolio, please contact Kate Fishenden on 020 8749 6098 or by email.